Michael is a young Canadian soldier wounded in Afghanistan and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Halley is a spunky 12-year-old Pathfinder who uses a wheelchair due to a physical disability.
Other than the fact they have the same last name — Armstrong — they don't have anything in common.
But the two become unlikely friends when Halley volunteers to read to Michael, who's in a rehab hospital, to earn her community service badge.
That's the plot of “Armstrong's War,” a play by Northern Ontario playwright Colleen Murphy that opens the curtain on Sudbury Theatre Centre's 2016-2017 season from Sept. 29 to Oct. 9.
It's a timely production, given the 22-day PTSD push-up challenge that's gone viral on social media, and the fact it's being staged in the lead-up to Remembrance Day, said the play's director, Caleb Marshall.
One theme is dealing with mental and physical challenges. But for Marshall, the best part is the unlikely friendship between Michael and Halley.
“You would never pair a 12-year-old Pathfinder with a soldier in his 20s,” said Marshall, who's also STC's artistic executive director.
“But that's one of the beauties of it. Out of that comes humour and a new perspective. They challenge each other, they frustrate each other. I think the lesson that can be learned and we can all relate to is we can be quick to judge who we think we get along with or who we have an impact on our life.
“Often it's the people we don't think of that can sometimes really surprise us.”
Marshall said the play's two actors, Katie Ryerson (Halley) and Trevor Pease (Michael), do a “fantastic” job.
“They came incredibly prepared,” he said. “When you're dealing with a small play, obviously it's a challenge for the actors. They have a lot of text.”
Pease said he doesn't personally know anybody who served in Afghanistan, but he did a lot of reading about Canada's part in the conflict.
“I don't think we speak enough about how specifically the war in Afghanistan affected the soldiers we sent out there,” he said.
“I think it's incredible having two people on stage that help each other through their journey, and come out stronger people in the end.”
Ryerson said she's enjoyed tapping into her inner child to play Halley. Dealing with the challenge of using a wheelchair on stage was interesting, she said, adding that she gives props to those who use one daily.
She said she's happy to portray a disabled character, something that isn't often seen on stage. “It's important to tell stories that are inclusive,” Ryerson said.
Regular tickets cost $36 for adults, $32 for seniors, $22 for those under 30 and $12 for students.
A pay-what-you-can relaxed performance will be offered Oct. 9. Advance tickets for that show are available for $15.
Relaxed performances feature production changes to make the show more hospitable for those with autism or anxiety disorder.
Purchase tickets at sudburytheatre.ca, by phone at 705-674-8381 or in-person at the DiBrina Box Office at 170 Shaughnessy St.
